In heavy conditions conducive to a physical contest, the Crows laid more than 100 tackles (108) for the first time in Club history.
The Crows have the highest tackle differential of any team in the League after three rounds. For the second time this season, the Club won tackles in all four quarters against Melbourne – a feat Adelaide only achieved once last season.
Wingman David Mackay had a game-high 13 tackles against Melbourne – a career-best. Mackay, Scott Thompson (11 – an equal-career high) and Rory Sloane (10) all ranked top-three in the League for tackles in Round Three.
Mackay also posted a career-high AFL Fantasy score of 130 against the Demons.
Jake Kelly laid 10 tackles – an AFL/VFL record for a debutant, according to Fox Footy. Kelly also kept his direct opponent, Jack Watts, scoreless from a mere eight possessions.
The Crows won the tackle count emphatically, 108 – 84.
Rory Sloane (31) was the leading possession-getter on the ground. Sloane also won eight clearances and generated three inside 50ms in another strong performance.
In his first AFL game of the season, Scott Thompson had a game-high 11 clearances. Thompson also amassed 30 disposals, including 19 contested – more than any player on the ground.
For the third straight week, Adelaide had nine different goalkickers. Captain Taylor Walker led the way with three, while young midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen kicked a career-best two. Luke Brown kicked only his third AFL goal, while Mackay, Charlie Cameron, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts, Tom Lynch and Brodie Smith also recorded majors.
Walker has kicked multiple goals in each game this season to be second in the Coleman Medal with 11 goals.
Not since 2002 have the Crows won their first three games of an AFL season.
Forward Tom Lynch had a career-high 17 kicks at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Adelaide has kept its opponent to fewer than 10 goals in each of its three games this season. After conceding the opening three goals of the game, the Crows only allowed four more for the match.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 325
Melbourne – 329
Kicks
Adelaide – 208
Melbourne – 186
Handballs
Adelaide – 117
Melbourne – 143
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 21
Melbourne – 15
Clearances
Adelaide – 54
Melbourne – 50
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 54
Melbourne – 42
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 155
Melbourne – 164
Tackles
Adelaide – 108
Melbourne – 84
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 66
Melbourne – 60
Interchanges
Adelaide – 110
Melbourne – 116
